Category: Issues

  • LOSSAN BOARD DISCUSSES JPA AND THE FUTURE GOVERNANCE OF PASSENGER RAIL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

    July 1 Meeting Report and comments by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President In an encouraging sign that LOSSAN and the County transportation executives are getting to grips with the conflicts between the multiple agencies operating railroads in Southern California (Amtrak, BNSF, UP, SCRRA and NCTD) the LOSSAN Board on Wednesday discussed the “Corridor Long Term Vision…

  • Sunset Limited Marketing Meeting

    Reported by Robert Manning, RailPAC Director, with comments by Paul Dyson, RailPAC President. Wednesday June 10, 2009 I have just arrived home after attending the Sunset Marketing and Revitalization Team meeting which was held June 6, 2009 in New Orleans, LA. I should remind everyone that this SMART (not to be confused with the Sonoma-Marin…

  • Does Amtrak propose to cease operations in most of the southern and western states within the next five to ten years?

    Below is a new press release from RailPAC, along with earlier correspondence between Paul Dyson, the RailPAC President, and Joseph Boardman, Interim President and CEO of Amtrak. 1) RAIL PASSENGER ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA 1017 L Street PMB 217, Sacramento, CA 95814 www.railpac.org 3 June, 2009 AMTRAK TO REDUCE OR END SERVICE TO MORE THAN 20…

  • Move the Sacramento Depot?

    Sacramento Preservation Commission Votes to Leave Depot in Place. Special Meeting May 21, 2009 Report by Bill Kerby, RailPAC Treasurer With only one dissenting vote, the Sacramento Preservation Commission voted to recommend the City Council rescind its 2004 compromise plan that would have kept the Sacramento Valley Station in proximity of the Union Pacific mainline…

  • Passenger Rail and the CA State budget crisis

    “WE HAVE NO MONEY SO WE HAVE TO THINK*” Commentary on a vital current issue by Paul J. Dyson, RailPAC President REVISED 5/25/09. Well, the party’s over for the United States and especially for California. From now on, instead of running up debt, we’re going to have to pay for what we consume or go…

  • Resolution Calling for Amtrak to order new cars

    Passed by approximately 120 RailPAC and/or NARP members at the May 2 joint meeting in Los Angeles. Resolution calling on Amtrak to place an order for rolling stock for the “Superliner” routes. Whereas the Rail Passenger Association of California is deeply concerned that there has been no new investment in rolling stock for the Coast…

  • NOW IS THE TIME!

    Letter to Members from Paul Dyson With passenger rail on the national agenda as never before, and a flow of federal funds coming in the next few months such as we have never seen before, we have an unparalleled opportunity to achieve some of our long time goals. We have put together a program of…

  • RailPAC writes Amtrak re new car needs

    16th January, 2009, Mr. Joseph H. Boardman, President and Chief Executive Officer, NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION, Re:  Amtrak Rolling Stock Investment Plans.          Dear Mr. Boardman:  As you take up your new duties as President of Amtrak, albeit so far on temporary assignment, we’d like to draw your attention to some distressing tendencies in Amtrak policy over…

  • Metrolink Weekend Schedule

    RailPAC Letter from President Paul Dyson December 4, 2008 Supervisor Mike Antonovich The Hon. Ara Najarian Mayor of the City of Glendale, California Hon Art Brown Council member, Buena Park Via E-Mail METROLINK WEEKEND SCHEDULES – TRIPLE TRAVEL OPTIONS AT NO COST   Dear Mayor Metrolink Board members: What do we mean when we say…

  • RailPAC Participates! Dyson and Dukakis in Santa Barbara

    “COAST,” the COALITION FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION Meeting Report for March 1, 2008, in Santa Barbara COAST is a Santa Barbara County regional organization promoting environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable transportation and reduced dependency on automobiles. The following report is from the COAST newsletter. RailPAC Director, Dennis Story, (shown with Gov. Dukakis) is a COAST member…